wondrous water

I've been thinking over and over about all of what Ginny's been saying over at 4 U Ruthie.  I've been trying to look and see God in the little things of my day.  I've been looking.  A few nights ago  I saw this.  And it's funny because normally we wipe this water away each day without even thinking about it, but it struck me as beautiful.  Only God can make something ordinary beautiful.  He makes the ordinary beautiful everyday.  So here's my first Wondrous Wednesday.

revisiting goals

In January I posted these 12 goals for 2012.  I've been meaning to update them with my progress so here I go.

These are 12 things I would like to do in the year 2012

1. Read the Bible all the way through --So far so good!

2. Sew more --Not really happening, but I do have a project picked out for next week.

3. Be more evangelistic  --Something that I need to work on.

4. Be bolder (see above)  --Something that I also need to work on.

5. Go on a mission trip --This is in the works, should happen in two months.

6. Make cards  --Hmm...I'm not so sure this is still a goal for this year.

7. Call an old friend --Have done, but left a message.  This was a while back and I need to try again.

8. Pray more  --Yes, but not as much as I had hoped.  My morning walks work out best for this.

9. Make bread and cinnamon rolls --Ha!  What was I thinking in January!

10. Photograph more candid moments  --I haven't taken as many photographs at all.  I had a little
& use Manual mode more                        funk to work through but I'm hopeful.

11. Engage more than disengage  --I think the iPhone has been bad for this, but I'm conscious of
                                                         this distraction.
12. Redeem the time  --I think this is the hardest one.  It takes the most looking away from me and looking toward others. 

Revised goals of 2012
-School with joy and patience
-Finish reading the Bible all the way through
-Go on mission trip
-Pray more
-Be bolder and more evagelistic
-Redeem the time
-Walk at least 3 days a week
-Read more nonfiction.  My nonfiction to ficiton ratio is severly bias toward fiction this year
-Be a better photographer

only servants

I think it's awesome that we are going on this trip to Brazil.  We've sacrificed, we've saved, we've worked hard, we've been disciplined, we are brave, we are trusting, and I could go on.  Are we really doing anything for God, if it's all about how great we are.

Here's what the Bible says.

⁷“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? ⁸ Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? ⁹ Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? ¹⁰ So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” Luke 17:7-10

And there's the sting.  It's our duty. 

duty

noun, plural du·ties.

1. something that one is expected or required to do by moral or legal obligation.

2. the binding or obligatory force of something that is morally or legally right; moral or legal obligation.

3. an action or task required by a person's position or occupation; function: the duties of a clergyman.

4. the respectful and obedient conduct due a parent, superior, elder, etc.

5. an act or expression of respect.

It's not something extraordinary, not something special, not something to bring us glory.
And our duty is even so much more.  Lord keep me in the right perspective.  You are great.  We are unworthy servants.

i heart faces: pet faces

I don't know.  I thought this was kind of funny because it looks like they are praying.